LL, that is what I want in my spirit for your healing. You bring within your spirit’s space All of the strength you can gather for each step and then move gently with your strength within that space. Then you allow your “spirit goodness spaces” to help your physical strength to make the steps you have to take.

Here are the eulogies the President and VP gave the other day. It’s amazing the impact Inouye had on both of them – even serving as an introduction to the concept of government and politics to an 11-year-old Obama!

Dawn Hochsprung’s Devotion To Family, Sandy Hook School Never Wavered . She was also an ardent Democrat.

Dawn Hochsprung kept politics out of her professional life.

But after the November election, Hochsprung, a registered Democrat, couldn’t help sounding off to her Facebook friends in an exuberant post using the pseudonym “Dinna Fash,” a term for “don’t worry.”

“Happy for my daughters, whose right to make decisions about their own bodies are preserved for four more years. Just happy.
Five weeks later, the president would hold Hochsprung’s 6-month-old granddaughter, Alyson, and pinch her little cheeks during a meeting with loved ones of those killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.”

May I just mention that Chelsea CRUSHED, DOMINATED, DEFEATED Aston Villa 8-0 today? *Cough Cough* Chips? While Manchester United drew a pathetic 1-1 with Swansea. I don’t wanna hear zip from you Chips. How you like us now? Man U better watch out.

yardarm, i was surprised to find my tears flowing with the 19 gun salute. just caught me up. i was waiting, hoping, the fly-over would extend to us on the outer islands, but no jet noise yet. would have liked to step outside and salute.

‘ On December 23, 2008, after a private memorial service at the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, Obama and his sister scattered their grandmother’s ashes in the ocean at Lanai Lookout. It was the same spot where they had scattered their mother’s ashes in 1995. ‘

potus’ grandfather, stanley dunham, died in 1992. malia was born in ’98 and sasha in 2001.

It was a beautiful service. Started just as I was arriving from church. The entire service reminded me of the beautiful dignified manner in which Sen. Inouye carried himself throughout his career and representing his country. As President Obama stated in his remarks at the service on Friday, ” May God give us more souls like Sen. Inouye.” Amen.HZ

did you see the first lady’s facial expression when the flag from his father’s coffin was presented to the senator’s son? she has such empathy, such deep aloha for the military families, and all those who serve our country.

Susanne, I watched the expression on our First Lady’s face and it was such a poignant moment. One to see in the history books, especially when one thinks of the life of this great Senator and our First Lady. That is what made it that “poignant moment.”HZ

JoJo, you are correct. POB’s grandfather was laid to rest at the same cemetery. Remember during one Christmas vacation during his first years in his first term, he went to pay his respect to his grandfather’s grave site. I figured that he was going to make the visit today, and he did. So good to see him pay that respect.HZ

Okay, GGail, I’m going to try your formula. I’m off to the 6pm Christmas service and when I return I expect I’ll be just in time to head the next thread. Please pass this on to Chips for me so that she can time my return. Thanks.

‘ Florida’s Republican governor wants President Barack Obama to invoke federal law and order a cooling-off period if nearly 15,000 longshoremen walk off the job in a looming strike that would be a big blow to the state’s economy, according to a letter he sent the president this week. ‘

‘ Brazil’s inherent societal belief that music improves quality of life, contributes to improved social behavior, and is an important vehicle to establish a peaceful society filled with tolerance and respect is a philosophy I once thought existed only in my utopian dreams.
~
Recently, the Brazilian government declared music to be mandatory in elementary and secondary school, and officials are currently creating teacher training programs to serve all children. ‘

All of us are very cognizant of the power of music. We use it on this blog, and I’ve noted people saying that the music inspired or soothed them. I think many of us are familiar with the quote from a rather obscure English play, “The Mourning Bride” by William Congreve. “Music has charms to soothe a savage breast. To soften rocks or bend a knotted oak.” (Act I) The play hasn’t survived, but that one quote certainly has.
When I taught tenth grade English, I used to play music while the students wrote in class. I used instrumental music, no vocals. The writing products I got were often somewhat amazing, better than otherwise. Taking music out of our curriculum is one of the worst things that can be done. Art, music and physical education are not frills. They are necessary.

This has been my argument for quite some time. Our public schools in Florida have turned into testing mills. The kids who need the arts the most have little or no access to it; instead they are double-blocked in reading/language arts and math classes. When I had more choices about what I did in my classroom, I often played classical (instrumental and vocal) music, Celtic music and even Gregorian chants at one time. My students grew to like the music and even asked to hear certain artist as the year progressed; some even bought copies for themselves. They were happier and more productive and so was I. My school has dropped courses like Literature and the Arts, Humanities, Debate, Art and Music Appreciation, Latin as more of the school day has been given over to testing and more testing. I am in my 30th year of teaching English/Language Arts in High School and I have seen the decline in the students’ ability to be creative, original or inspired. I have taught grades 7-12, standard, Honors, A P, and Dual Enrollment and I am saddened by the results of the decisions made by people who have spent little or no time teaching students. My district is currently celebrating because based on the most recent school grades, none of the high schools earned less than a ‘C.’ While this is nice, it does not tell the real story behind what students have lost along the way.

CEB, you can tell that I taught many years ago…..back in the golden 60s when schools had money and the right to teach what and how it was best for students. I do not envy teachers today, but I do admire all of you more than I can say. I get SO angry at people making decisions for schools who have never been in a classroom. Our Secretary of Education in our pitiful state is a Dentist! and she is making horrible decisions. She does not know anything about the reality of teaching, and is driving out good teachers, like my daughter.
How do we turn this around? I would be absent too if all teaching was to the test!

Carolyn and CEB, I love what you do with music. Please keep doing as much as your can when you can. Music fills the hearts, minds, and souls of those beautiful minds in our classroom. I played the piano and sang every period as my student entered and exited my classes.

The students would ask for the music. Their creative minds were so beautiful when they had those experiences in class. It calmed many, gave some an opportunity to take private music classes. It was one of the beautiful spaces in my classrooms.HZ

If anyone is interested there is a wonderful 75 min interview with Senator Daniel Inouye on C-Span where he talks about the discrimination of the Japanese before Pearl Harbor and the laws passed that made his mother a native born citizen who married a immigrant Japanese man no longer a citizen. How he was a premed in College and when they opened up enlistment for Japanese he went to enlist and was turned down because doctors were going to be needed and it had a priority over the Army. He went immediately to quite his government job and college to be accepted. How Hawaii and Mainland Japanese in the beginning would fight terribly because Hawaiians didn’t even know about the internment camps and spoke pigin–a mixture of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese etc. Then he talks about all aspects of the war, It is at http:www.c-span.org/Events/Oral-Histories-Daniel-Inouye/10737419453

Watching all the news about Senator Inouye takes me back 49 years to when I was a college graduate working for another senator on Capitol Hill. When Senator Inouye came to the capitol that January, he seemed so exotic and revolutionary. Everyone wanted to see him. These were the heady days of JFK, when all the world seemed new, and Senator Inouye represented the new and exciting. I remember him as always perfectly dressed and very gallant. His staff were beautiful and graceful, they had flowers from the islands in their office, and he was a breath of fresh air in the old Senate halls.

President Obama has had the most stressfull week yet of his presidency.

Since Daniel Inouye and Senator Daniel Akaka were the only senators that Hawaii has ever had, PBO no doubt looked up to his senators as political father figures.

And this loss occurs during the same week as the horrific, devastating Newtown massacre.

Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan will surely try to be as rudely irritating next year as possible. Really wish PBO didn’t have to go back to DC next week. As a nation, we should all wish for that he has the opportunity the rejuvenate during vacation.

From James Fallows, former speechwriter for Jimmy Carter:
“For Obama in less than a week, we have expected him to strike the right tone of national sorrow-and-resolve about Newtown; and to show the right mixture of firmness-and-flexibility in dealmaking about the budget; and to mourn a grandee of the Senate (knowing that Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, etc would also be speaking); and to send signals to the Syrians and the Egyptians and the Chinese and many others; and to introduce the next Secretary of State. No wonder these people look a generation older at the end of each term.”

This is nothing but a classic case of sour grapes. Please; 7 years of his life and millions spent and the best that they can do is “he really didn’t want to be president”? This is an insult to the poor deluded people who voted for him and to the rest of us for wasting our time. Just when I think that this fool and those around him cannot get any lower, they show me that they can. The election is over, he lost and it is now time for him and all of the apologist to go away while the rest of us go forward. Geesh!

AMEN to: WILLARD GO AWAY. JUST FUCKING GO AWAY. And take the imbecile moose-brain from Alaska, and the sweaty, fetid Rush Limpbaugh and the insane, delusional glennbeck and the rest of their fellow miscreants with you.

The source for the article was Tagg, I think. The main idea was that PBO won because of more operatives, bigger ground game, more money for advertising, and because he got to define Romney early as an out of touch corporatist. (Tagg and Ann wanted him to share the gentler, caring side of himself, but the main strategist wanted to focus on the economy and president -bashing.). Well that’s all true but it only worked because everything they said about Romney was true as revealed in the 47% video, and because President Obama is the man he is.

LMAO I can’t bring myself to sour my mood by reading it but the first thing that came to mind is the little kid who no one picks to play with, saying as he slinks off with his head hanging “well, I didn’t really wanna play, anyway.” I might feel badly for that child, but not for mr 47%. It just makes me laugh

He always wanted the office & the house & the plane – but it is very true that he didn’t want the job – impossible to even imagine how he would cope with events that PBO handles with great skill 24/7/365

McCain was a sore and bitter loser, this is another sore loser, just expressed differently. “nyah, nyah, ha, ha, you didn’t beat me, I didn’t want it.” He’s still a thirteen year old, and he and his son are schoolyard bullies. I’ll never believe he didn’t want to be president!!! You don’t spend 7 years campaigning, going through all those awful primaries and debates for something you don’t want. How STUPID do those people think we are!!! Sleazy and classless for sure.

Not to mention that in 2007-2008, Romney spent $24M plus of his own money. Now why did he do that again? Romney in 2006 was away from MA jet setting and raising funds and he did all that because he didn’t want the job? Oops, what about the 23 straight years of tax returns that Romney gave to John McCain…..hoping that McCain would pick him for VP spot in 2008? And what about his wife’s comments about It is Mitt’s Turn. It is Their Turn? Last but not least, why then did Ann Romney tell an interviewer that her biggest worries were Mitt’s Mental Well Being, should he get elected? These people think that we are Fatuously Clueless. But, but wait a freaking minute, the Romney’s are not ONLY pathological, their DNA is nothing short of pathetic wicked lying bat poop clan…..the whole family.

Also, Lisa Murkowski is in attendance, which is fitting and welcome, since Alaska and Hawaii became part of the union at about the same time.

A nice reminder that not all GOP are vile tea-baggers. The GOP is in chaos, and I hope they get their just rewards.

This week from hell has made me even more protective of President Obama. I absolutely hate the childish GOP tea-baggers who take glee in trying their best to humiliate the president who won more than 50% of the vote.

Jacquelineoboomer, this is the Key for sure. I say this daily as I enter into the gift of life. Divine Angels give me the spirit to hold on to this moment in history to support POB and his administration. So I always pray for:
wisdom
protection
productive works with grace
precious time with FLOTUS and the First Daughters
patient attitude
prayerful heart to do what is right
positive attitude during adversity
possibility in spirit
passion for his job,no matter what comes his way
participant totally daily in all of this journey for the betterment of all Americans.
Amen .HZ

Bob Dole and Daniel Inouye are the brave souls the Senate use to be fill with, instead today it is fill with the horrible likes of McConnell, McCain, Graham, Ayotte, Collins, and other Republicans who puts party ahead of country.

Yes how could I forget Rand “racists” Paul and Uncle Tom, I mean Uncle Tim Scott. I saw on the news that Mitch McConnell was running alot scare at the thought of Ashley Judd running against him. If I know how to get in touch with her I sure would write to encourage her to run.

This was also a very poignant moment during the service today for me also jacquelineoboomer. This was the very moment after Mrs. Inouye was presented the American flag, and then President Obama reached over and kissed her and hugged her. Then she looked at him with this expression (IMOP) of yes, remember Mr. President, my Daniel had to go through some of the same issues as you are going through under this same flag, but hold on and keep your faith strong. I cried when I saw him do it because he was listening and watching the officer as he was speaking to her. She gracefully received it and then POB leaned over and kissed her and she received it so lovingly, but I read this emotion from both of them. It was a moment of love for country, respect for a dear person, and then feeling each other’s pain and power at the same moment. Just what I came away.HZ

President Obama escorted Mrs. Inouye down the aisle at the service on Friday at the Washington Cathedral. It was a powerful, graceful, and most beautiful moment to behold. She was so graceful and the two of them showed so much strength under the pure sad moment.HZ

Really??? You need a candidate to be believable, likeable, and knowledgeble. Even without the 47% video, Romney was none of those things. That’s why Obama won and Romney was consigned to the list of failures and losers because he was both.

yes, what a stupid article. notice the republican stenographer trying to give credit to george bush’s 2004 campaign for president obama’s elections successes?!? no mention of howard dean’s campaign of course, and if republicans were so good at “microtargeting” why haven’t they been using that brilliance to win in 2006, 2008, 2012, and failed to get the Senate in 2010?

i’ve been noticing so many of these election post-mortems from republicans, and they across the board seem to be missing the point, as usual. i think we should encourage them to keep thinking the ways they are thinking though, and even egg them on more to keep running with these wrong ideas. they’re so dumb they’ll just double down on all the stupid strategies for elections to come.

Merry Christmas everyone! Have been back working the last couple days, still trying to have a week off (will settle for 4 or 5 days!) SO! am signing off the interwebz for a few days, but be back! Hugs all around, I know we all give thanks for our blessings, for our Chipsticks and for PBO and our First Family!

yeah that’s my fav part too. To be honest, after the wedding, I pretty much only watch the scene where the sing at the festival and escape the Nazis. Christopher Plummers expression at the end as he gets choked up gets me everytime

I also love the part where they tell each other they love one another in the gazebo. I literally know every word to that song. Also let’s not forget the wedding ceremony, I swear if I ever get married, that will be my wedding dress, come hell or high water, including that long as train…lol

President Obama shouldn’t have to be cutting his Christmas vacation time short, if it wasn’t for those radical crazy ass Republicans there would be a fiscal deal and the President could spend his time with his family, getting some relaxing time.

amen! i am fuming about this, but i know it’s his choice to show them, and all of america, that he is serious about the deadline. it galls me that the rethugs tripped off to their lovely christmas vacations, with the sanctimonious sneers of the self-righteous. they didn’t budge! give them a big fat stocking full of coal and donkey poop! so they let the american people pay the price, no big deal to them. however, pbo is showing that it is indeed a big deal, a bfd to quote the veep, and he is not taking the fall for this.

Alcohol is strictly forbidden in the Mormon religion. You cannot be in good standing and be drinking alcohol. He is what is referred to contemptuously as a “Jack Mormon.” I can dismiss someone not living up to their stated religious values. I can’t dismiss someone endangering the lives of others because of drinking while driving, and at the same time claiming to be a public servant who has sworn an oath to uphold the laws of the land.

Because the Farm bill cannot get through the House, the Price of Milk will double on January 1st. Some places could see 7 dollars per gallon!
No new spending will get through the House for next 2 years, they have made that perfectly clear. I hope their Constituents are satisfied?

Looks like I came back too early, or GGail’s formula only works for her. Or maybe it got jinxed because I didn’t come straight home but went shopping instead.😉 As per Boehner, only God knows. Gone back up to see what I missed.

I agree with Bobfr and 99ts, that David Gregory and Wayne LaPierre should be off the airway. We can’t let LaPierre and the NRA win this time, I don’t believe they will this time, because we have 20 little Angels on our side.

How the heck is everyone in TOD land? I am taking a break and just had to check in. Life is good and I hope you are all enjoying it with loved ones, good friends and or family. I was at a restaurant during my galavanting today and caught about 3 mins of Reid speaking at the memorial. Unfortunately it wasn’t polite to the ppl I was with so had to put away my android. Drats! Anyway fun times.

ChipsChica that was a very touching memorial you did to Sue last night. I hope you got back to work and finished up so we can celebrate without distraction.

Getting ready for my #2 to come from college then we’re heading to NYC to visit family and meet up with my #1 for New Years -Yeah! My favorite fireworks (2nd to WH on 4th of July) is over the river in NYC on New Years eve.

I have been taking a much needed break from the punditry and my blood pressure thanks me for it, but am keeping up on their shenanigans. Have been calling and faxing reps but who knows if it makes a diff. Our stupid senator collins is a bitch. There! I said it and I mean it.

Oh well won’t let her spoil my festivities. Will keep doing what I can while staying away from the TEAliban enablers aka the #mediafail.

I picked up fixings to try the bark Susanne posted. ****waves frantically****Thanks Susanne! It’ll make me think of warm sun and swaying palm trees when I eat it.

Okay off to see how much I can catch up on before my guilt gets to me and I head back to ‘the things I have to do’ land.

Am I really the only person who likes the movie Mannequin with a young Kim Cattrall (way pre-Sex & the City), Andrew McCarthy and Meshach Taylor as Hollywood?? Anyone, anyone??? Good night TOD fam and Happy Holidays.

They released the mugshot aka glam shot of Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), arrested for DUI in Virginia. If this weren’t so irresponsible, I’d say it was just another GOP Mr. Potato Head from Idaho. He issued a statement, in case ya missed it.

So, Susan Rice isn’t worthy of representing the country because she repeated CIA talking points that she was given on a show that few people watch, (but which seems to be the sacred home of John McCain), but this Crapo character – who risked the lives of all those who were on the road at the time he was driving drunk – can remain a senator in the US government? Outrageous!

In my world it is already Christmas Eve – I am quite exhausted – been doing “stuff” since 8am – getting close to time to open the bar. Tomorrow we have cold chicken and cold ham and fishcakes (my mother’s wonderful recipe) and salads and potato bake – being it is likely to be 90F+ so it is a lovely relaxing day. Will have 4 generations including 1st Christmas for granddaughter – at 3 months she probably won’t be too much into the partying – but she will be with all those who love her dearly.

May you all have a wonderful Christmas & stay safe with your loved ones.

I’m looking at the news as they were talking about people rushing to buy these weapons, assault guns and I couldn’t help but think from what I saw they were all white men. But most, not all, of mass murders are committed by white men. If it were black men rushing to buy those assault weapons these same people who complain about their 2nd rights would be talking a whole different story.

yes, it is sickening, but if there were videos of african american men, or latino men, or heaven forbid muslim men descending in droves on these gun shows and walmart weapons departments, we would definitely see anti-gun legislation fast-tracked through congress.